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Inform method with evidence: Usage independent information on market self-confidence, growth, and customer demand to direct your strategic instructions. Verify financial investment strategies: Make sure resource allotment and initiatives are backed by credible market insight. Speed up confident decisions: Gear up members of your executive team with clear, actionable insight to reach contract quickly and take definitive action.
1 GCC, "HE GCCSG: The FTA between the GCC and the UK is a Significant Strategic Chance to Raise Economic Relations to New Horizons," October 20252 GCC, "Joint Declaration on Economic Cooperation In Between the Association of the Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)," May 2025 3 IMEC, "India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) Progress Update," April 20254 WAM, "UAE's CEPA program strengthens international economic ties with 26 strategic contracts," March 20255 Muscat Daily, "Oman, India set to sign open market pact 'soon'," September 20256 India Embassy Qatar, "India-Qatar Bilateral Relations," June 20257 Reuters, "Qatar's QIA prepares to a minimum of double annual United States financial investments over next decade," May 2025; WAM, "US$ 110 billion in UAE investments in Africa position country as world's fourth-largest investor," October 2025; Whitehouse, "Reality Sheet: President Donald J.
Boards across Africa are getting in a defining cycle. Capital is tighter. Scrutiny is greater. Danger is more interconnected. And the quality of conference room judgment will progressively determine which organisations sustain growth and which fall behind. In reaction, Ascent Club, an exposure launchpad curating gain access to and chances for board- and C-level ladies, in collaboration with BusinessDay, is launching a new month-to-month conference room dialogue assembling accomplished African female executives who actively serve at the highest levels of governance and business management and who are members of Ascent Club.
This inaugural session unites board specialists to examine the real pressures forming board programs today: INSIDE THE BOARDROOM: The Strategic Threats and Top Priorities Shaping 2026 Monetary discipline in constrained markets Evolving regulatory and governance expectations Innovation interruption and cyber resilience Long-term value production and sustainability imperatives Leadership choices boards must prioritise heading into 2026 Ascent members and speakers include: Mediator Nnoli Akpedeye MD/CEO, Contego Servo Limited Speakers Sarah Ajose-Adeogun Handling Partner, Teasoo Consulting Ochanya R.
Deborah David CFO, Powergas It is a convening of executives contributing directly to governance, threat oversight, and tactical direction within their organisations. Through this collaboration, Climb Club and BusinessDay are intentionally producing a recurring forum that surface areas board-level insight, enhances credible female governance voices, and broadens access to the tactical thinking emerging from Africa's boardrooms.
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Total possessions held broadly consistent over the quarter, while trading levels pointed to continued repositioning and as a reaction to geopolitical news rather than a meaningful brand-new capital deployment. Global macro conditions set a challenging backdrop.
The result was a quarter specified by volatility, dispersion, and selective positioning, rather than a clear directional pattern. Oil related assets succeeded for the many part. On the favorable side, in January, the Boreas Absolute High-end ETF launched on ADX to include more thematic ETFs. In Q1, two more Kraneshares have actually been approved for launch by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and will be authorized by the Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange (ADX). The GCC ETF universe made up 39 ETFs with a total AUM of $9.35 billion (as of Q1 2026). Performance throughout the market was broadly negative, with just 13 ETFs providing positive returns compared to 26 in decrease. Performance in Q1 2026 was driven by a narrow group of distinctive winners, rather than broad market strength.
Egypt provided strong efficiency in January and February. Despite a market pullback in March due to the war, both Egypt's market and its ETFs still posted positive returns for the quarter. The ongoing Middle East dispute and resulting energy shock have actually reshaped the outlook for emerging market equities in between the oil-haves and the oil-have-nots.
The sector likewise faced broader macro headwinds, consisting of a more mindful policy background in China and global risk-off sentiment driven by geopolitical stress and greater energy costs. Thematic ETFs also had a hard time for the most part, particularly those connected to carbon and high-growth technology, as evaluation pressures and international rate dynamics weighed on efficiency.
Flows in Q1 2026 were modest and extremely concentrated, showing selective allowance rather than broad market involvement. Despite weak performance, ETFs recorded $27.1 million in net inflows, with just a little number of items bring in new capital.
Trading activity stayed steady, with typical 30-day volumes around 33,000 shares, concentrated in a handful of larger and more liquid ETFs. The majority of activity appears to have actually taken location in the secondary market, enabling financiers to change positions without considerable primary productions or redemptions. While recent geopolitical occasions have resulted in more monetary pressure on GCC nations, the area stays durable and well capitalized to deal with the circumstance.
In January, Boreas introduced its S&P Global High-end UCITS ETF, adding a niche thematic direct exposure focused on international luxury and consumer brand names. Momentum continued into April with the approval of KraneShares AGIX and KWIN ETFs by the CMA for cross-listing on ADX. These funds are anticipated to release in April pending a last approval from ADX.
Q1 2026 showed some development associating with ETFs in the GCC. We expect more international and thematic ETFs to list in the GCC during 2026. While the conflict has affected belief and costs during the quarter, it has driven more volume and interest in regional possessions.
The 2026 Vision for Person Capital in the UAEIn spite of continuous geopolitical stress and security threats across the Middle East, the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have actually continued to demonstrate durability, preserving positive development momentum over the last few years. While conflicts in the larger region and worldwide financial uncertainty stay a structural restriction, GCC countries have up until now limited their effect on domestic economic efficiency through strong fiscal positions, policy connection, and continual financial investment.
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